COPPERAS COVE: The Varsity Football team traveled south on Friday, facing off against the Buttons of Central Catholic in the Bi-District round of the 2019 TAPPS Playoffs. The Cardinals, coming off an emotional senior night win against Bishop Lynch, were looking for their first playoff win in program history. JPII has been to the playoffs three previous times, in 2013 where they lost to Austin St. Michaels 38-45, in 2017 where they lost to Brownsville St. Joseph 14-40, and last year when they lost to Houston St. Thomas 32-52. This time felt different, however, as the Cardinals continue to set records, including a 2-2 district record with wins over Bishop Dunne and Bishop Lynch.
Both offenses started hot as Central Catholic opened the scoring on their initial possession, and JPII answered back with an 11-play, 75 yard drive of their own as junior QB
Grayson James (19-32, 200 yds, 2 TDs) found senior TE
Donavon Johnson (3 rec, 17 yds, 1 TD) in the red zone on a short three yard pass for the equalizer. The Cardinal defense held fast on the next Button drive, forcing a missed FG to keep the score tied at seven all. JPII's offense then put together perhaps its most impressive drive of the night, marching 80-yds in 12 plays as the offensive line and senior RB
Carson Collins punched it in from one yard out to take a 14-7 lead. The JPII secondary stepped up big on the next two possessions as junior DB
Trey Spann picked off Central Catholic in the endzone to preserve the lead, and freshman DB
Braxton Myers intercepted the Buttons on the 15 and returned it to the 35. The JPII offense stalled out and Central was able to hit a FG as time expired to end the half, cutting the Cardinal lead to 14-10.
The JPII offense put together a big opening drive in the second half but was unable to come away with any points, while the Cardinal defense forced a quick 3-and-out to give the ball back to the offense. James wasted no time finding junior WR
Jerand Bradley (8 rec, 116 yds, 1TD) on the ensuing drive, connecting on a 20 yard pass to go ahead 21-10. Both teams traded possessions and points in the fourth quarter, but the Buttons made it interesting after scoring a touchdown but failing the 2 point conversion, leaving the score at 21-16 with less than three minutes to play. Spann picked off the Buttons again on their final drive, nearly returning the ball for a touchdown to seal the game for JPII.
Instrumental in the win were junior RB
Grant Robinson (18 carries, 119 yds), junior RB
Myles Parker (2 rec, 16 yds), junior RB
Shunte Nettles (3 rec, 35 yds), and senior RB
Tkai Wade (1 rec, 4 yds). With the win, the Cardinals advance to the Regional round of the TAPPS Playoffs, where they will face Nolan Catholic at Mustang-Panther Stadium in Grapevine at 7pm this Friday night.
